Welcome to FAFNER

Welcome to FAFNER.DYNDNS.ORG! FAFNER is a VAX 7000/820 (and thus a two
processor VAX) running OpenVMS 7.2 which is available for hobbyist
use.
FAFNER is running in my basement
(together with a lot of other (mostly) OpenVMS machines ranging from
small systems like a VAXstation 3100/38 to quite modern Alpha based
systems) on a 24x365 basis.
Why would one run a machine which takes up several square meters of
floor space, consumes enough electrical power to literally heat the
house (which I do) and which is running an operating system like
OpenVMS?
Because OpenVMS is the greatest operating system ever (in my oppinion
:-) ) and because I really love old computers and especially the VAX
architecture. I can not imagine living without a large VAX in my basement
- I do not even have a PC running a uSoft operating system. Everything
I do, I do on FAFNER.

To get an impression of how big FAFNER actually is, have a look at the
picture on the right. I am 187 cm tall and I am standing on my toes in
this picture to look over the front cabinet door.
Why is this machine available for hobbyists? Because I think that there
should be as much OpenVMS hobbyist systems on the net as possible to
spread the knowledge about one of the most wonderful operating systems
ever, to invite people porting software or just getting involved with
working on an OpenVMS system.
If you want to know, where the name FAFNER is coming from, just have a
look at the short story behind
FAFNER and its reincarnations during the time.

What do you have to do to get an account on FAFNER or one of the other
machines in my basement? Just send an
email to me, tell
me a little bit about you and your interest in OpenVMS and I will create
an account for you as long as you do not have commercial interests in
using FAFNER. It should be self-evident that doing non-gentlemenlike
things on FAFNER, like tampering with FAFNER, spying out other users,
etc. is not supported in any way! Doing things like these will result
in blocking the account. In the same way an account will not be given
to persons which are likely to try things like these.
Maybe you know of some old computer hardware (maybe even of some VAX or
Alpha hardware) which has to be saved from scrap, please let me know. I
will do my very best to save the machines and get them up and running
again! I am not afraid of large machines and my house has (guess why
:-) ) even three phase wiring everywhere where you can install a large
VAX.

Some facts about FAFNER: FAFNER is, as already mentioned, a two processor
machine running OpenVMS 7.2. It has 512 MB of RAM, a CI controller which
is connected to a star coupler (an 4000 Alpha system is connected to this
star coupler, too) which is in turn connected to an HSJ40 disk
controller.
This controller currently serves six BA350 storage works shelfes which
can hold seven SCSI disk drives, each. Currently there are not all
slots filled with disks but if someone needs more disk capacity on FAFNER
for a project, it is no problem to increase the overall capacity
available.
If you need some special hardware, there is a VAX 8370 (a never supported
three CPU BI bus machine with three KA825 CPU boards which nevertheless
runs quite smoothly), lots of smaller VAX systems, even some PDP-11
systems, etc. which can be switched on for a limited period of time.
The only restriction is my power bill, running the 8370 and FAFNER
concurrently for an extended period of time would just ruin me, so FAFNER
is the only machine which is constantly available. :-)

There is quite a lot of software installed on FAFNER which is due to the
OpenVMS hobbyist program
(they do a really grand job! Thank you very, very much!).
Currently there are compilers for ADA, C, C++, BLISS32, COBOL, FORTRAN,
PASCAL and lots more, some interpreters including PERL and even
J, etc.
If you need some software installed which is covered by the OpenVMS
hobbyist program, which is not already available on FAFNER, please feel
free to ask me. I will install it as soon as possible.
By the way - you can reach FAFNER at the address FAFNER.DYNDNS.ORG using
a TELNET or SSH (preferrable) connection.